Larger Than Life

I've seen several news items (including one on the main page here) where Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatens to "punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned." Anyone want to venture a guess as to what this nut-job means? I'm thinking we'll see a military display of some kind, maybe a new rocket or other home-grown hardware. Whatever it is, with their recent defiant intention to increase uranium enrichment to 20% Iran is making it increasing difficult for a peaceful resolution. With China and likely Russia to veto any future sanctions with real bite (if there is such a thing) coupled with Iran's attitude, war seems inevitable.

It's interesting this prediction has come from the Iranian Chief Poobah and not Ammadinnerjacket as they usually do. The words he used seem to me to indicate something more than a military display or launch of a new rocket. An attempted nuke strike on Israel perhaps?

If that's the case, I would imagine that the long predicted Israeli srrike on Iran will happen in the next day or few hours ...

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Pobody's nerfect

One thing he know about when you punch somebody, they will probably not like it one bit, and punch back harder! Learned that myself one time.

- This, wholly dependant upon how hard the strike. What terrifies me in this regard, how prepared are we to meet an offense - an unknown quantity of Sunburn missiles? *IF* and onslaught could be great enough we’ve no defenses against, we’re talkin’ obliteration here.

Doubtless, this would not leave us totally w/o recourse, though upping the anti might just include nuclear reprisal.

Do we really wanna go there?

Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx

And also to mention Smersh - That this came from the TRUE head of the Iranian gov't rather than Puppetmajad makes it of double concern.

Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx

No need in my opinion even if Iran attacked us or Israel, which I doubt.

The Iranians are incapable of overwhelming either the US or Israel with their conventional arsenal. The sea-skimming Sunburn is - at least on paper - a very potent missile but so is any sea-skimmer, ask the USS Stark. What we learned from that "accidental" Iraqi Exocet is more than enough to negate the Sunburn being any more than a nuisance to our navy, although it could play havoc with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz until we took them out. There's alot of internet gossip regarding this missile, and it's probably very good, but it's not unbeatable. With our Aegis ships, augmented with AWACS, the Sunburn can be addressed..while they last.

The Iranians would be rather foolish to attack anyone, they are not really a military juggernaut. They have a mediocre air force, scatter-shot air defense capabilities, and a weak navy. They have SSMs (surface-to-surface missiles) but their arsenal isn't sophisticated enough to defeat our anti-missile defenses (both naval and land-based) or Israel's Arrow. What makes Iran unattractive as a combatant is not their weaponry or power projection, it's the prospect of invading and occupying their country. If we weren't stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan it wouldn't be such a big deal for us but the Israelis would find it a daunting task. The Israelis could rule the Iranian skies but "boots on the ground" would be another story IMO.

Aside to Smersh, I don't think the Iranians have a deployable nuke yet. Suffice it to say if I'm wrong and they have one & use it on the 11th... consider me "punched."

You make good point, Steve - And I can see you know your stuff; As you say, one thing we don’t wish to be involved in would be an action that will require more boots on-the-ground policing a nation we’ve brought to the brink. You’re undoubtedly right in saying we’re stretched far too thin. Add to which, the one thing Iran had going for it all these years is OIL REVENUE, I have little doubt the largest portion of which went for re-armament post their 8 year engagement -w- Iraq. Who’s Iran’s friends? Easy to see - - Just look which nations’ are dragging their feet when it comes to UN Sanctions.

(Read as, it would be wrong to underestimate the strength of a foe)

The problem - we may not have much choice here. We’re dealing with a nation the size of Iran, with a goodly number of deeply emplaced hardened nuclear facilities I’m not so sure we can disable conventionally (MAY take nuclear) - Add to this problem, once the cooling capacity to these reactor facilities are destroyed conventionally (or) otherwise, would likely open that Pandora’s box / potential for a ‘China Syndrome?’ (given the depth of the emplacements & their proximities to the water table given that depth) I’d mentioned elsewhere? Would have to be a consideration, IMHO.

I’d hate to think of Chernobyl x4

Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx

Threats from Iran. Threats from North Korea. This grows tiresome. North Korea appears to be far ahead of Iran in the nuke missile area. Good discussion here. How does Iran define "... the West?" Do they consider Israel to be part of the West? Probably. They can't hurt us--USA--but they wouldn't hesitate to nuke Israel if they had that ability, IMO. Think of it: 4th century-minded religious fanatics possessing late 20th century nuclear technology coupled with a virulent anti-Semitism. Makes one long for the Cold War, USA versus USSR. Now the kids have the keys to the nuclear car. Adminadinnerjacket reminds me of the old Soviet leader Khrushchev, who was loud and bellicose... "We shall bury you," he told Vice-President Richard Nixon in the late '50s. He banged his shoe on the table at a U.N. meeting. His bark was worse than his bite, until he got stupid and bit off more than he could chew in Cuba in 1962. Will Adminadinnerjacket bite off more than he can chew? If so, what consequences, gentlemen?

That old song, Bomb, Bomb Iran may come true if they keep it up.

I wonder how many of our friends across the pond know that one... Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran. That's from a Beach Boys song? Question: Who bombs? Us? The Israelis? Both?

Yah know. . .Its' Feb. 11th in Iran.

Just sayin'.

Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx

Here as well. And in dog years I'm dead.

Perhaps they put the 'snow curse' upon our heads?

Yup. I'll bet that's it.

Bastards.

Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx

Could be. Richard C. Hoagland claims the Chinese hurled hurricanes at us a few years ago. Relax, Joe. I've got the Mark IV, Series 80, Hyper-Electric Neutron Gravitator purring like a kitten, so go ahead, Adminadinnerjacket... Make my day!

It's my daughter's birthday.. If they do nuke us, I hope it will be tomorrow. Today isn't convenient.

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My best advice to anyone who wants to raise a happy, mentally healthy child is: Keep him or her as far away from a church as you can.. (F. Zappa)
"How ironic... You eat vegetarian and speak baloney" -- Bucky Catt
Blackadder: Baldrick, have you no idea what irony is?
Baldrick: Yes, it's like goldy and bronzy only it's made out of iron.

We'll be fine. Jim's ready. . .



Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx

You may well be correct Steve. After I made my last post though I was wondering if Iran would be testing a nuke today to mark their revolution anniversary (as you possibly suggested originally in your op, actually) but well, we see. (See the quote below from Ahmaginnajihad from the Beeb about enriched uranium.)

Aunty Beeb is telling me that so far in Iran today ...



Sounds like "Rent-A-Crowd" again ...



Well, surprise surprise. Although if Israel has it's strongly suspected 100 or so nuclear warheads I guess the surrounding Arab countries can hardly be blamed for trying to keep up, can they? Would be nice if they'd be more up-front about it though instead of claiming it's all for "peaceful" means. (Just like Israel is up-front about it's nuclear weapons ... )



I guess we can expect more horrific videos on Youtube filmed with camera phones, of massacres by the secret police on the streets of Tehran and elsewhere, any time now ...

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Pobody's nerfect

AHMADINEJAD DECLARES IRAN IS A NUCLEAR STATE.
What happened to (we are just building a power plant for our people!

Hey! It's Punch Day!!!!



Anybody get hit yet?

Yah. And I gotta go outside an' hit back, -w- the snow-shovel. . .

Joe (Bigsky770)

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“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”

- - Groucho Marx